CARICOM | Presidents Ali and Maduro to meet face-to-face in St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Thursday

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, December 10, 2023 - In an effort to de-escalate the war of words between Venezuela and Guyana which threatens to boil over into armed conflict, President of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), Dr Ralph Gonsalves has organized a meeting between President Irfaan Ali and the President of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro in St Vincent next week Thursday.

The  Guyanese leader on Saturday insisted however that the border dispute over the Essequibo Region is non-negotiable and will not be on the table for discussion.

At Saturday's emergency meeting of the Heads of Government of CARICOM,  President Ali was urged to explore the possibility of a meeting with President Maduro in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.  

However, Ali reiterated that Guyana’s land boundary is not up for discussion, as it is currently before the ICJ and when adjudicated will be fully respected by Guyana.

Brazil’s President, Luis Inacio Lula Da Silva is expected to participate in that meeting, which is expected to be held under the auspices of both CELAC and CARICOM.

In Dr Gonsalves’ letter to Presidents Ali and Maduro, he said the meeting would discuss “matters consequential to the border controversy between these two great countries.”

Given the recent events and circumstances attendant upon the border controversy, the leaderships of CELAC and CARICOM have assessed, in the interest of all concerned, including our Caribbean and Latin American civilisations, the urgent need to de- escalate the conflict and institute an appropriate dialogue, face-to-face, between the Presidents of Guyana and Venezuela.

Both of you have concurred with this assessment in the quest of peaceful co-existence, the application and respect for international law, and the avoidance of the use or threats of force. Both of you are on public record of committing to the Caribbean as a Zone of Peace and the maintenance of international law,” Dr Gonsalves said.

The CELAC Chairman told Presidents Ali and Maduro that they both have agreed with him for such a meeting to be held under the auspices of CELAC of which St. Vincent and the Grenadines is the Pro-Tempore President and CARICOM of which the current Chairman is the Commonwealth of Dominica.

The Vincentian Prime Minister noted that Venezuela and Guyana have taken strong positions on the border controversy, with Guyana’s National Assembly authorising Dr Ali not to negotiate the controversy and the Venezuelan referendum rejecting the ICJ as the means of settling the controversy over the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Tribunal Award that settled the land boundary of the two South American nations.  

Clearly, each of you has to summon the proverbial wisdom of Solomon, the patience of Job, and the foresight of all the ancient prophets to engender good neighborliness in peace, justice, security, and prosperity for all concerned. There is thus much for each of you to raise and/or discuss on matters consequential to the border controversy even as you respect the advice, or more, of your respective peoples and Parliament/National Assembly,” the Vincentian leader said.

Since the December 3 referendum in Venezuela, Maduro has declared Venezuela one of its military zones and has said its state oil and mining companies would be authorised to explore for oil, gas and gold in Essequibo. 

In response, United States military aircraft, in collaboration with the Guyana Defence Force, earlier this week conducted flight operations over Guyana’s airspace.

The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders issued a statement on Friday at the end of their  on-line caucus that they support Guyana’s position that the border dispute has to be settled at the ICJ.

According to Ali,  Guyana will continue to have exercises with its partners and that investments in Guyana would continue to remain safe.